Container

ABSTRACT

The invention is related to a container ( 1 ) with a container wall ( 2 ), a container bottom ( 3 ), and a container opening ( 4 ), where the container wall ( 2 ) extends essentially conically from the bottom to the opening and the inner side of the container wall ( 2 ) displays axially oriented stacking ribs ( 5 ), distributed around the circumference. According to the invention the container is designed in that the radially outer area of the outer side of the container bottom ( 3 ) is provided with at least one recess ( 10 ) which, when stacking multiple containers ( 1 ) in each other, can be engaged by at least one stacking rib of a container ( 1 ) located beneath it, thereby fixing the containers ( 1 ) in place in non-rotating fashion relative to each other. Hereby, the stability of the arrangement of stacked containers is improved.

The invention relates to a container with a container wall, a container bottom, and a container opening, where the container wall extends essentially conically from the bottom to the opening and the inner side of the container wall displays axially oriented stacking ribs, distributed around the circumference.

The purpose of the stacking ribs located on the inner side of the container wall is to make it possible, when stacking multiple containers in each other, for the respectively upper container to be supported in the respectively lower container, such that the two conically shaped container walls cannot get stuck in each other. Owing to support by the stacking ribs, a slight clearance remains between the two container walls, this permitting easy separation of the containers stacked in each other. The containers supported by the stacking ribs are arranged inside each other in such a way that the edge area of the container opening of the respectively upper container, with the fastening device for the carrying strap, is located outside the container opening of the respectively lower container.

Instability of the position of the containers supported by the stacking ribs can occur during handling and transportation of containers of this kind stacked in each other.

The object of the present invention is to provide containers of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph that improve the stability of the position of containers stacked in each other.

According to the invention, the object is solved in that, on a container of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, the radially outer area of the outer side of the container bottom is provided with at least one recess which, when stacking multiple containers in each other, can be engaged by at least one stacking rib of a container located beneath it, thereby fixing the containers in place in non-rotating fashion relative to each other.

As a result of this design, the respectively upper container when stacking multiple containers of this kind is retained on the stacking ribs of the respectively lower container in non-rotating fashion. Furthermore, the containers stacked in each other can be arranged and retained in a predetermined position in relation to each other. This guarantees a very largely stable position of the containers stacked in each other during handling or transportation.

At least one of the stacking ribs can display a greater axial height from the container bottom than the remaining stacking ribs, where its difference in height in relation to the remaining stacking ribs corresponds at least to the depth of the recess provided on the outer side of the container bottom.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radially outer area of the outer side of the container bottom displays an axially projecting, essentially continuous foot, which displays at least one interruption forming at least one recess on the container bottom.

The at least one interruption in a continuous foot on the underside of the container bottom permits particularly simple manufacture of the recess provided on the container bottom for engagement of at least one stacking rib.

The recess(es) can, however, also be suitably shaped sections of the edge area of the container bottom that are open towards the underside, and preferably also towards the radially outer side. Similarly, webs or projections can be provided on the container bottom, between which one or more upper ends of the stacking ribs, i.e. ends pointing towards the container opening, engage, being retained between them in a manner preventing rotation about the container axis.

The width of the recesses in the circumferential direction of the container bottom can be slightly larger that the width of the stacking ribs in the circumferential direction of the container wall, such that a predetermined clearance remains between the upper ends of the stacking ribs and the walls of the recesses.

On the other hand, the width of the recesses can be slightly smaller than the width of the stacking ribs, in order to obtain a predetermined clamping effect between the upper ends of the stacking ribs and the wall areas of the recesses. In this case, the containers stacked in each other can only be separated from each other by overcoming the predetermined clamping force.

The stacking ribs located on the inner side of the container wall can, e.g. by injection molding in an injection mold, be integrally molded on the container wall and display a geometry suitable for molding the container and removing it from the mold. They preferably extend from the container bottom.

The height of the stacking ribs, or their length from the container bottom, is expediently dimensioned in such a way that the container walls of containers stacked in each other do not get stuck. A slight clearance remains between the container walls, allowing containers stacked in each other to be mutually aligned in a predetermined orientation. Owing to the arrangement of the stacking ribs, and the recesses on the container bottom interacting with them, the required orientation of the containers stacked in each other can be defined and, due to the non-rotating engagement of the stacking ribs in the recesses, retained during handling or transportation of the containers.

On the other hand, the stacking ribs can display an identical length, in which context the outer side of the container bottom is provided with multiple recesses, which are engaged by the stacking ribs of a container located beneath it when stacking multiple containers in each other, where at least one of the recesses fixes the containers in place in non-rotating fashion relative to each other due to engagement of at least one stacking rib in said recesses.

In particular, the outer side of the container bottom can be provided with recesses distributed around the circumference to match the stacking ribs, which are in each case engaged by the stacking ribs of a container located beneath, whereby the containers can be fixed in place in a manner preventing rotation about the container axis.

To guarantee sufficient stability when supporting numerous containers stacked in each other, and resistance of these containers to rotation relative to each other, the stacking ribs display a radial extension from the container wall that corresponds to between one and three times the wall thickness of the container in this area. The radial extension preferably corresponds to once to twice the edge thickness of the container.

The container outer wall is preferably not provided with a continuous flange. The container outer wall is preferably designed to be essentially smooth and/or free of projections and/or free of undercuts except, where appropriate, for the radially outward-projecting retaining areas for a carrying strap and the corresponding areas for connection to the container wall.

Two practical examples of the invention are described in more detail below on the basis of the drawings. The Figures show the following:

FIG. 1 A longitudinal section through a practical example of a container,

FIG. 2 An enlarged view of area A in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 A perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1, without lid,

FIG. 4 A perspective and cutaway view of the container shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 A cutaway view of containers according to FIGS. 1 to 4, stacked in each other,

FIG. 6 An enlarged view of the container bottom of another practical example of a container, from below, and

FIG. 7 A sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a practical example of a container 1 with a container wall 2, a container bottom 3, and a container opening 4. Container wall 2 extends essentially conically from container bottom 3 to container opening 4. Axially oriented stacking ribs 5, distributed around the circumference of container wall 2, are provided on the inner side of container wall 2. The container is made of plastic and produced by injection molding, together with the stacking ribs 5 integrally molded on its inner side. The purpose of stacking ribs 5 is that, when stacking multiple containers 1 prior to fitting lid 6, a container respectively located in container 1 can be supported, such that the conical container walls 2 of the two containers 1 are prevented from getting stuck. Owing to being supported by stacking ribs 5, a slight clearance remains between container walls 2, such that the two containers 1 stacked in each other can easily be separated from each other.

To enable a container 1 stacked in container 1 to be fixed in place in non-rotating fashion relative to container 1, the radially outer area of the outer side of container bottom 3 is provided with recesses, which are engaged by the end of stacking ribs 5 of container 1, positioned beneath and outside it, that points towards container opening 4, thus fixing containers 1 in place in non-rotating fashion relative to each other.

In the practical example described by FIGS. 1 to 4, the recesses are designed as interruptions 7 of a foot 8 projecting axially in the radially outer area of the outer side of container bottom 3. As can particularly be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, foot 8 extends in annular fashion over the entire circumference of container bottom 3.

When stacking multiple containers 1 with attached lids 6, foot 8 can furthermore engage a corresponding axial depression in edge area 9 of lid 6 of a container located beneath, cf. FIG. 1, such that containers 1 with lids 6 stacked on each other are radially fixed in place relative to each other and cannot slide on each other.

The recesses designed as interruptions 7 of an annular foot 8 are distributed around the circumference of container bottom 3 to match stacking ribs 5. In the present practical example, four stacking ribs 5 and, accordingly, four interruptions 7 of foot 8 are provided, being arranged at an angle of 90° to the nearest adjacent stacking ribs 5 or interruptions 7.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of two containers according to FIGS. 1 to 4, stacked in each other. In this context, container bottom 3 of upper container 1 in the drawing sits on the upper edge of stacking rib 5. A clearance remains between container walls 2 of the two containers 1 stacked in each other, and can completely surround the inner container if the position of the containers is centered. The same also applies when stacking containers according to the practical example described below. Generally speaking, a lateral clearance between container walls 2 of the containers stacked in each other can again remain in this case. The stacking webs can also engage the recess with lateral and/or radial clearance in the area of recess 10, in order to prevent jamming of the containers in stacked state. This can apply independently of the practical example.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a further practical example enabling containers 1 stacked in each other to be fixed in place in non-rotating fashion. In this instance, the radially outer side of container bottom 3 displays recesses 10 distributed over the circumference, which are designed a local areas molded into container bottom 3. Recesses 10 are in each case engaged by the upper edge of a stacking rib 5 of a container 1 stacked beneath. As can be seen from FIG. 6, recesses 10 are open towards the underside and towards the radially outer side of container bottom 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Container -   2 Container wall -   3 Container bottom -   4 Container opening -   5 Stacking rib -   6 Lid -   7 Interruption -   8 Foot -   9 Edge area -   10 Recess 

1. Container with a container wall, a container bottom, and a container opening, where the container wall extends essentially conically from the bottom to the opening and the inner side of the container wall displays axially oriented stacking ribs, distributed around the circumference, characterized in that the radially outer area of the outer side of the container bottom is provided with at least one recess which, when stacking multiple containers in each other, can be engaged by at least one stacking rib of a container located beneath it, thereby fixing the containers in place in non-rotating fashion relative to each other.
 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer side of the container bottom is provided with recesses distributed around the circumference to match the stacking ribs, which can each be engaged by a stacking rib of a container located beneath, whereby the containers can be fixed in place in a manner preventing rotation about the container axis.
 3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the radially outer area of the outer side of the container bottom displays an axially projecting, essentially continuous foot that, at points appropriately distributed over its circumference, displays interruptions forming the recesses on the container bottom.
 4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least three stacking ribs are provided.
 5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that four stacking ribs are provided, which are each arranged at an angle of 90° to the nearest adjacent stacking ribs, and the recesses on the container bottom are arranged similarly.
 6. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking ribs extend from the container bottom.
 7. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking ribs have a radial width corresponding to between one and three times the wall thickness of the container in this area.
 8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the stacking ribs have a radial width corresponding to between once and twice the wall thickness of the container in this area. 